There has been an outpouring of love and support for a young woman returning to work at a Utah ice cream parlor, after she was openly mocked by a customer for her weight.

Justine Elwood says she was scooping ice cream for the woman's children when the mother warned her kids, 'don't eat too much or you'll end up looking like her'.

"I was just kind of shocked because I feel like that's not something you should say in front of kids anyway, and it wasn't very nice," said Justine. "And I don't think it's a good thing to teach your kids, but...it happens, I guess."

And it went beyond that in a review on Yelp. The woman said Justine always provided good service, but then the woman complained that Justine was so obese, that she 'instantly makes my appetite disappear'.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't something that I'm not used to. It's kind of...I've had my whole life," said Justine. "I'm kind of used to it, which is horrible, but it's just something that I kind of dealt with throughout my life."

Justine was welcomed back to work with balloons, encouraging notes and praise on social media.

Justine is going to school to become a doctor. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her reach her goal.